Managing with out being able to work the bees?

[Poly Hive]

Time has been called on my left knee and the operation will be sometime this year, yet to be determined but ASAP as I am taking the wife to India next January.

If anyone has managed their bees successfully with out being able to touch the hives for a month+ I am up for ideas. I have a bit of a plan but many minds are aye better than one.

Pete

 

[Erichalfbee]

If anyone has managed their bees successfully with out being able to touch the hives for a month+ I am up for ideas. I have a bit of a plan but many minds are aye better than one.

What time of year?
There was a chap (here...maybe? ) Who put four supers on in early spring and didn't open his bees till the top super was full of them. He swore he never lost any swarms. Forgotten his name.... @jenkinsbrynmair will know

 

[Poly Hive]

Probably mid to late June so swarming time really.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Probably mid to late June so swarming time really.

Split them?

 

[Sutty]

Give them double brood boxes and several supers, put out a bunch of bait hives, and cross your fingers not too many swarm?

 

[ericbeaumont]

double brood boxes

Triple, with a sheet of newspaper between to slow heat loss until the nest expands.

 

[Sutty]

Triple, with a sheet of newspaper between to slow heat loss until the nest expands.

Interesting idea, would that work between supers too?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

would that work between supers too

yes

 

[Curly green finger's]

Yes

 

[ericbeaumont]

Interesting idea, would that work between supers too?

Old idea; use two or three sheets between, if you like.

 

[Antipodes]

Reverse Demaree.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Old idea; use two or three sheets between, if you like.

Only really read about it on here Eric, a few folk I know use a thin cb with a hole in the middle which gets removed.

 

[ericbeaumont]

hole in the middle which gets removed.

The CB is removed? PH won't be around to remove it, but the bees would go through anyway and store above it.

 

[Poly Hive]

I'll be around but not actually able to do any lifting for I believe 6 weeks. Deep joy.

Pete

 

[Nannysbees]

I'll be around but not actually able to do any lifting for I believe 6 weeks. Deep joy.

Pete

Any beekeepers near you that could stand in?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Only really read about it on here Eric, a few folk I know use a thin cb with a hole in the middle which gets removed.

at least one bee farmer I know uses that trick - he gave a talk about methods of avoiding weekly inspections when busy at the spring convention years ago

 

[Sutty]

Wouldn't it be just as effective to put the unused boxes under the existing nest? The best is further away from a draughty entrance, heat rises, and they can expand downwards naturally.

 

[emoclewbee]

If it is going into swarming season you could nuc the Queens 8 days prior, then cull the queen cells down to one a week later.
In the nucs give them mostly foundation/foundationless with a super.

 

[Curly green finger's]

at least one bee farmer I know uses that trick - he gave a talk about methods of avoiding weekly inspections when busy at the spring convention years ago

That’s the idea it’s possible to inspect every 9/10 days.
Who was the bf mate?

 

[user 819]

With 30 odd colonies one is having to deploy a lot of kit and hope.